Chapter 96: Chapter Ninety-Six Because It's Near

Driver, A Tuo.

Qin Menglan first introduced the people in the car to Tang Luo.

The driver was a young man in his twenties with a gentle smile on his face.

A Tuo has a rather rare passive skill, adaptive racing, and although he hasn't completed six missions yet, he has become a first-rank demonic wanderer.

But in the field of approaching science, he is also considered a relatively important role.

Now his real-world job is as a driver for the "External Dispatch Group," which refers to demonic wanderers in Approaching Science who are specifically responsible for handling some abnormal events in the real world.

Interested people also actually take up such work.

Like Tang Luo, his official work file is in the External Dispatch Group, but he only handles "abnormal missions."

"Hello, Master Xuanzang." A Tuo turned around and shook hands with Tang Luo.

"Watch the road." Qin Menglan couldn't help but remind him.

"Got it, Blue Sis, you gotta believe me, I'm a pro at driving." A Tuo said, "Do you know Amuro Tooru? Have you watched the latest Conan movie?"

"Can you do a tornado charge dragon whirlwind?" Tang Luo's eyes lit up, what a talent.

A Tuo's expression stiffened: "I will in the future."

"Oh, here's my business card, we can team up later and beat up bad guys." Tang Luo pulled out a business card and shoved it forward.

Among the three men in the car, he had only seen one before, so naturally he had to go through a round of business card exchanges.

"Okay, thanks, Master Xuanzang." A Tuo smiled as he took the business card, "If I need anything, I'll definitely come find you."

As for this strange white-haired monk, he had already inquired about him earlier—he's a tough guy, and also a ruthless one.

Many demonic wanderers think this guy would have a bright future if he became a bandit or mountain bandit type.

But due to possessing some monk's fate, he ended up walking the path of "chivalry and righteousness, punishing evil and promoting good."

As for good and evil, demonic wanderers aren't particularly concerned about that, but strength? They care about that a lot.

Rubbing shoulders with the strong, no one would refuse.

Yes, as a fate-holder, Tang Luo, who killed Yao Jingwu in seconds and possesses at least two pieces of equipment, has been categorized by many demonic wanderers as belonging to the strong.

Many people believe Master Xuanzang should be a third-rank demonic wanderer.

What is third-rank? It's the level of a humanoid tank.

That day, the underground training room told everyone that Master Xuanzang's destructive power is comparable to tank artillery fire.

That's third-rank, no doubt about it.

The ranking system is just this simple and crude.

And this Master Xuanzang walks the path of upright confrontation—how great!

Encountering a teammate in a mission who dares to and is willing to confront head-on is truly rare.

In the absence of conflicting interests, naturally it's you're good, I'm good, everyone's good.

"This is A Fei, this is Qiang Shu, both have completed more than six missions." Qin Menglan introduced the other two.

A Fei is a youth with a cold expression, still has some acne on his face, looks no older than twenty, don't know which high school or college he studies at.

Facing Tang Luo, he just gave a cold nod.

Qiang Shu, naturally not young anymore, said with a smile on his face: "This is the second time I've met Master Xuanzang."

"Mm." Tang Luo also smiled broadly.

At the last gathering, he and this Qiang Shu had "a fate of a single sheet"—that is, a bond formed by exchanging one business card.

As for A Fei, this is the first time meeting him, so naturally he should hand over a business card.

"Not needed." Facing the business card Tang Luo offered, A Fei said coldly and firmly.

"Kid, you don't understand now, but once you enter society, you'll realize the importance of connections." Tang Luo said.

Of course, the premise is that you yourself aren't a trouble-maker.

Why can Tang Luo often pull out Mount Lingyan, Leiyin Temple, the Tathagata Buddha as his backing?

Isn't it because he has made contributions to the Great Teaching?

An ordinary monk shouting "Buddha save me" a hundred times wouldn't help—so many people every day, Buddha can't save them all.

But Tang Luo is different—he shouts "Quickly go to the Western Heaven and invite the Tathagata Buddha."

The other party just has a face like they ate shit, and can only leave angrily.

What if this guy really summons the Tathagata Buddha? Even if the Tathagata doesn't come, if some others show up, it's still enough to give you a headache.

Headache so bad that even Yang Jian sometimes has to retreat three li.

This is the power of connections!

"Not needed, I have my sword, that's enough." A Fei had his sword placed beside him, within easy reach.

This sword looks very ordinary, no sword guard, hilt and blade are one piece, including the scabbard, all black, utterly unremarkable.

"Besides, I only know how to kill people." A Fei added.

"Coincidentally, I'm also very good at converting others, you know... that... the big horse monkey? I've converted him." Tang Luo said, "We can exchange insights on conversion later."

A Fei's icy expression on his face suddenly couldn't be maintained.

"Really not needed?" Tang Luo asked again.

"Alright." A Fei took the business card and put it away.

"You should have figured it out—A Fei is a fate-holder, and his fate is just A Fei." Qin Menglan said, "You can exchange insights on that, I mean, regarding fate."

A Fei's traits are very obvious, he's quite easily identifiable as a fate-holder.

So there's no need to hide it deliberately; he simply uses "A Fei" as his codename.

Besides, A Fei doesn't have things like being water-soluble or unable to bend his knees—those obvious flaws that would make him a target.

If there are any, they're just personality traits—nothing worth saying, everyone has those.

The holder of a fate can imitate the original owner of that fate to a certain extent to enhance their strength, but that does not mean they must also learn the other party's flaws.

"Okay, okay." Tang Luo smiled and agreed.

"Our mission objective this time." Qin Menglan displayed the data for Tang Luo to see.

This mission sounds simple when put into words: it is "eliminate evil," to eliminate a demon-walker.

The specific crimes need not be elaborated—things like "murder and arson."

This person originally joined the Near Science group; for unknown reasons, they suddenly killed several people in recent days and fled after being discovered.

Now Near Science has located their whereabouts and plans to eliminate them.

No one bothered to remember their real name; during demon-walker exchanges, they were called Thirteen, giving off an air of being hard to get rid of.

But now they should be "eliminated."

Qin Menglan, Qiang Shu, and A Fei have all survived six missions, making them true veteran demon-walkers.

A Fei is also a fate holder.

That Thirteen will definitely not escape.

"By the way, he looks quite honest, doesn't he?" Tang Luo said, looking at Thirteen in the data.

Such a flashy, attention-grabbing name paired with a truly honest and simple face.

"Yeah, they probably went through something in the mission world that caused a major personality shift." Qin Menglan said, "Speaking of missions, after six missions, the mission undergoes some changes—do you know that?"

Tang Luo shook his head; he has only experienced four missions so far.

"After six missions, one will no longer encounter newcomers participating in their first mission—this is basically common knowledge." Qin Menglan continued fulfilling her role as an "information provider," "After six missions, under certain circumstances, one may encounter demon-walkers from different factions."

"You mean demon-walkers with different missions, who won't appear together in the same place?" Tang Luo said, "I encountered such a situation in my last mission."

"... You didn't say you haven't even completed six missions yet?" Qin Menglan asked.

"Yeah, but I did encounter them." Tang Luo said, "Perhaps this is just the treatment of a genius."

"Hmph—" Qin Menglan cut off Tang Luo's words and forcibly continued explaining, "Faction missions are inherently antagonistic, and sometimes the mission objectives are completely opposite."

"Oh." Tang Luo nodded, no wonder those demon-walkers started fighting as soon as they met.

It seems their missions have clashed? I also don't know what their missions are.

"For faction missions, our opponents are, in most cases, people from other regions." Qin Menglan said, "It's rare for our own people to have different missions."

"Do demons even play this game?" Tang Luo expressed some surprise.

"Who knows?" Qin Menglan shook her head; when she first learned about and experienced faction missions, she too was surprised.

Demons actually engage in "territorial division"? But the fact is exactly so.

Everyone also doesn't know what the "demons" are really thinking.

Could it be that the demon game is actually God and the Jade Emperor playing chess?

"Besides faction missions, there is another special type, even rarer than faction missions." Qin Menglan continued introducing, "We call it role-play missions."

"If I say my last mission was a role-play mission plus a faction mission, would you believe me?" Tang Luo said seriously.

"Believe, believe, believe." Qin Menglan wore a face of disbelief, "Role-play missions don't need me to explain further, do they?"

This is easy to understand; indeed, no further explanation is needed.

In the last mission, Tang Luo played the role of Wayne Kate, though his portrayal bore no resemblance at all.

"I have a question." Tang Luo asked, "In role-play missions, will one possess the original owner's memories?"

In his last mission, he didn't even know who "he" was himself, and only learned later from a kind stranger.

"As far as I know, no—it's merely occupying an identity." Qin Menglan said, "Sometimes, the identity itself becomes a burden."

"So saying, the last mission wasn't a punishment mission?" Tang Luo thought to himself.

He once suspected that his last mission was a punishment for smuggling the Heavenly Hound, or perhaps a test.

Now hearing Qin Menglan say this, it should just be an ordinary mission. Only, it seems the relatively difficult and complex missions that come after six missions have been brought forward.

"We're almost there, get ready." A Tuo said, simultaneously slowing down the vehicle.

"So soon?" Tang Luo asked, we haven't even left the urban area yet.

"Yeah, right in this city." Qin Menglan said.

"Wait!" Tang Luo suddenly noticed a blind spot, "So this mission isn't because you thought of me and felt I was strong enough, but because I'm close enough?"

After hesitating for two seconds, Qin Menglan decided not to give Tang Luo any praise.

This guy is too easy to make radiant.

"Yeah, right, it's just because of proximity."